1 Corinthians
10:1-33

10 For we do not want you to lack the knowledge, brothers, that our fathers were all of them under the cloud and all went through the sea2 and all had themselves baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea,3 and all ate the same spiritual food4 and all drank the same spiritual drink (for they drank out of a spiritual rock that went along with them; and the rock was the Christ),5* but God was not pleased with most of them; for they fell along the desert road.6* And in these respects they were types of us, so that we may not take to desiring bad things as some of them did.7 And do not become idolaters, as did some of them, as it is written “The people sat down to eat and drink and stood up to play.”8 And let us not go into sexual debauchery, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.9* And let us not put the Lord to a test, as some of them tested him and perished by the snakes.10 And do not grumble, as some of them grumbled and perished by the destroyer.11* And these things befell them by way of types, and were recorded for admonition to us, in whom the ages have reached their goal.12 Consequently, let him who thinks he is standing look out that he does not fall.13 There has not any temptation caught you but such as is the lot of man. And God is faithful, who will not let you be tempted beyond your power, but with the temptation will also make the way out so that you may be able to stand it.14 Wherefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.15 I speak as one does to sensible men; judge of what I say yourselves.16 The blessing-cup that we bless, is it not participation in the blood of the Christ? the loaf of bread that we break, is it not participation in the body of the Christ?17 because we, many as we are, are one loaf, one body; for we all share in the one loaf.18 Look at Israel, Israel in the fleshly sense: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants with the altar?19 What am I saying then? that an idol-sacrifice is anything, or that there is any such thing as an idol-god?20* no, but that what they sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God. And I do not want you to become participants with demons.21 You cannot drink the Lord’s cup and demons’ cup! you cannot share the Lord’s table and demons’ table!22 Or are we teasing the Lord into jealousy? are we stronger than he?23 Everything is permissible, but not everything is advantageous. Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive.24 Let nobody look after what is for himself, but what is for the other man.25 Eat anything that is offered for sale at a market, without making any inquiries for reasons of conscience;26 for “the earth and all that fills it belong to the Lord.”27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you choose to go, eat anything that is brought to the table without making any inquiries for reasons of conscience.28 But if somebody tells you “this is sacrifice meat,” do not eat, because of him, the one that informed you, and for reasons of conscience—29* and I do not mean one’s own conscience but the other man’s; for to what purpose is my liberty judged by another conscience?30 If I partake with gratitude, why am I vilified over what I give thanks for?31 So, whether you are eating or drinking or doing anything, do everything to God’s glory.32 Have nothing about you that either Jew or Greek or the church of God could stub their toes on,33 in the same way as I am pleasing everybody about everything, not looking out for my own interests but for those of the many, that they may be saved.